The Centre’s Sickness and Infectious Diseases Policy will prevent and contain the spread of sickness and infectious diseases

Procedures

• In general, tamariki should stay away from the Centre when:

1. They have little energy, want or need to sleep or rest for long periods

2. Cry easily, are irritable or in pain

3. Constantly want to be held and comforted

4. Have required pain relief e.g., paracetamol before arriving

• Tamariki who have had diarrhoea or vomiting need to be away from the Centre for 48 hours after the last episode of sickness, or at the Head Teacher’s discretion.

• When a tamaiti has a temperature which reaches 38 degrees kaiako will notify the whānau/caregiver and ask them to remove the tamaiti from the Centre.

• A tamaiti who has had a fever or high temperature 38 degrees in the last 24 hours should remain absent from the Centre.

• When a tamaiti is absent from the Centre because of a contagious infection, i.e., chickenpox or measles, the Ministry of Health guidelines and Centre policies and procedures will be adhered to.

• Tamariki will be isolated in an appropriate area of the Centre e.g. workroom/office under close supervision if they vomit or have diarrhoea at the Centre or any other infectious condition.

• Two loose bowel motions within a short period of time are considered to be diarrhoea.

• The whānau/caregiver of a tamaiti will be notified and asked to remove the sick tamaiti as soon as possible.

• The enrolment form will contain the following information:

1. Emergency contact person

2. Permission to administer homeopathic medicine described

3. Permission to seek medical help in the advent of an accident, or serious illness.

• If antibiotic medicine has been prescribed it must have already been administered for 24 hours prior to the tamaiti returning to the Centre, and before kaiako will administer the medicine at the Centre. 

• A medication form (appropriate category) must be completed by the whānau/caregiver before any medicine is administered by kaiako.

• Whānau are to contact the Centre as soon as an infectious/contagious disease has been diagnosed, particularly in the case of Chickenpox, Fifth Disease (slapped cheek, parvovirus), Measles, Hand Foot and Mouth, Giardia, Conjunctivitis, Impetigo (School Sores) and COVID 19.

• When a tamaiti has attended the Centre with an infectious disease whānau of all the tamariki will be notified as soon as possible.

• Any person in a state of physical or mental health that presents any risk of danger to the tamariki or kaimahi or has an infectious or contagious disease will be excluded from the Centre.

•         These procedures also apply all kaimahi and visitors to the Centre

Specific Conditions for Children’s Return to the Centre

Conjunctivitis

When the discharge from the eye has stopped children can return

Hand, Foot & Mouth

Infected children can return when they are feeling well and weeping blisters have dried up

Head lice

Children with head lice can return to the Centre the morning after their first treatment

Impetigo

Children can return to the Centre 24 hours after treatment with sores covered until they have healed

Chicken Pox

Children can return after one week from appearance of rash and all the spots have dried up.

For any other infections or diseases Campus Corner Early Learning Centre is guided by Nga Kupu Oranga – Ministry of Health Guidelines for Early Childhood Centres.

We are committed to the health and safety of all tamariki and kaimahi at our Centre. At times we are required to administer medicines to tamariki in attendance and we will aim to ensure care is taken to collect all relevant information, follow administration requirements and record appropriate information.

Procedures

• Written authorisation to administer any category (ii) medicine such as antibiotics, ear/eye drops must be received from whānau/caregivers, which is to include name, type of medicine, dosage, method and frequency.

• All medication must be clearly identified with the name of the tamaiti.

• The medication requirement form will include who, when, what, how much, and by whom the medicine was administered.

• Any oral medication administered must be checked by two kaiako and signed off.

• Whānau/caregiver are required to sign the medication requirement form as an acknowledgement after the medication has been administered.

• In an emergency situation, i.e., when the temperature of a tamaiti is 38 degrees, kaiako can administer pain relief with verbal authorisation from whānau/caregivers.  Other means of reducing fever should be implemented first.

• Campus Corner will use only JUNIOR PARACETAMOL – dosage as per brand.

• Category (iii) medicine which is used for ongoing treatment of a pre-diagnosed condition e.g., asthma, eczema and allergic reactions will be ritten up on an Individual Health Plan which is kept at the back of the daily medication folder.

• When medication is administered from Individual Health Plans, it must be recorded and signed by the kaiako administering it. Whānau/caregivers are required to sign the IHP form as an acknowledgement after the medication has been administered.

• Individual Health Plans will be reviewed in the monthly maintenance checklist by Senior Teachers.  Whānau/caregivers will be required to sign the form every three months to ensure that it is still relevant.

• Medication for Young Children will be stored in the fridge or top right cupboard above bench in kitchen.  Medication for Infants & Toddlers will be stored in the fridge or in high kitchen cupboard in the Infants and Toddlers area.  This will be identified with a medical sign on the outside of the door.

• All Kaiako must sign the medication form as a record of training and information provided on administrating medicine.

• All medicine records will be kept for one year with other Centre documentation.

We aim to provide a safe sleeping environment for all tamariki. Kaiako will endeavour to follow the routines of each individual tamaiti in a relaxed and unhurried manner.

 Sleep Room Procedures

• A sleep room is provided adjacent to the Infants & Toddlers indoor area.

• Sleeping tamariki are to be clearly visible at all times.

• The rostered kaiako is to remain present until all tamariki are asleep.

• The rostered kaiako is responsible for physically checking sleeping tamariki for warmth, breathing and general well-being.

• Physical checks are undertaken at 5 - minute intervals for Infants & Toddlers and 10 - minute intervals for Young Children and recording this on the daily sleep room check form.

• Adequate sleeping space and ventilation is provided for the safety and hygiene of tamariki.

• Tamariki are issued with individually identified sheets and bedding that are washed on a weekly basis.

• No tamaiti will have access to food or liquids while in bed.

• Infants will be encouraged to rest or sleep on their back .

• Infants who are able to stand independently will use the bottom cot if possible.

• All tamariki will be put to sleep in a cot or on a mattress in the sleep room.

• Whānau are encouraged to bring special/comfort sleeping aids for their tamaiti to use during sleep times including soft toys, pacifiers, sleepsack etc